Senior Child Care Officer

Birmingham Children's Trust; Birmingham; Hybrid; GBP 23,000 - 28,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

30 days annual leave + bank holidays

Salary Sacrifice Car Scheme

Free on-site parking

Employee benefits & pension scheme

Local Government pension scheme

Job summary

Birmingham Children’s Trust is hiring Residential Child Care Officers to support children with learning disabilities, autism, complex health conditions and challenging behaviour. You will develop personalised care plans, support daily living skills, and work with families, schools and social workers to promote safe, meaningful development in a 24-hour residential setting.

The role is hybrid and based in Birmingham; successful candidates will undergo DBS checks and onboarding.

Qualifications

• Ability to supervise groups of disabled children with emotional and behavioural difficulties.
• Ability to assess risk and safeguard children.
• Strong organisation and time management.
• Excellent communication skills, with experience in using communication aids.
• A compassionate and patient approach, with a commitment to providing high-quality care.
• Ability to work collaboratively with co-workers, a range of professionals and stakeholders.
• Flexibility to participate in an on-call rota.
• Childcare qualifications desirable.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement personalised care plans reflecting each child’s individual needs, preferences and goals.
• Support children to express wishes and feelings using communication methods and visual aids.
• Promote consistency by working with parents, schools, social workers and other professionals.
• Encourage independence with everyday life skills and meaningful activities tailored to each child.
• Support 24-hour residential provision with shifts, weekends and bank holidays.
• Help safeguard children through risk management and careful supervision.

Skills

Group supervision

Risk assessment

Time management

Communication skills

Compassionate care

Stakeholder collaboration

On-call flexibility

Education

Childcare qualifications desirable

Job description

Are you passionate about making a difference in the lives of children with learning disabilities, autism, complex health conditions, and challenging behaviour?

We are seeking dedicated and experienced Residential Child Care Officers to join our supportive and nurturing team. Our aim is to create a nurturing environment where children can develop the skills and confidence they need for day-to-day life. We support children with emotional well-being, health, and social needs, tailoring our care to meet their individual requirements.

As our Residential Child Care Officer, you will play a vital role in supporting children and young people to thrive in a safe, nurturing, and structured environment. You will develop and implement personalised care plans that reflect each child’s individual needs, preferences, and goals, ensuring their voices are heard and respected. Using a variety of communication methods and visual aids, you will help children express their wishes and feelings confidently.

Working collaboratively with parents, schools, social workers, and other professionals, you will promote consistency and positive developmental outcomes. You will also encourage independence by supporting children with everyday life skills such as meal preparation, personal hygiene, and self-care, while planning and delivering meaningful activities tailored to each child’s abilities and interests.

This is an exciting time to join us, and we need the right talent to help us to continue to improve and grow our services. The Residential provision is a 24 hour service, applicants for these roles will be expected to work shifts, some weekends, and bank holidays.

We have been rated as ‘Good’ by Ofsted, following a 2023 inspection. This is a fantastic achievement for Birmingham Children’s Trust, with many positive highlights focusing on areas including the quality of staff leadership, partnership working, safeguarding and corporate parenting.

This is a hybrid role based in Birmingham so you must have the correct right-to-work documents to work in the UK. Sadly, we do not support those who require sponsorship.

Did you know:

Birmingham Children’s Trust won the Supportive Social Work Employer of the Year award at the Social Worker of the Year Awards in October 2025. James Thomas, our (BCT) Chief Executive, said: “Winning two Social Worker of the Year Awards is testament to the devotion and dedication of all our staff, from those working with and directly supporting children, young people and families to those who are providing extremely valuable support services to enable practitioners to thrive.”

About you:

• Ability to supervise and manage groups of disabled children who may have emotional and behavioural difficulties.
• Ability to assess risk and monitor arrangements in place to safeguard children.
• Strong organisation and time managements skills.
• Excellent communication skills, with experience in using communication aids.
• A compassionate and patient approach, with a commitment to providing high-quality care.
• Ability to work collaboratively with co-workers, a range of professionals and stakeholders.
• Relevant qualifications in childcare are desirable.
• Ability to work flexibly, including participation in an “on-call” rota.

Our Benefits

• A generous annual leave package of 30 days annual leave, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days after 5 years of service and 35 days after 10 years of service.
• Salary Sacrifice Car Scheme which gives you the chance to drive a brand-new car for an affordable fixed monthly amount as part of a salary sacrifice initiative. With no deposits or credit checks required a range of all-inclusive driving packages
• Free on-site parking at our offices on One Avenue Road (Aston) and Lifford House (Stirchley). We also provide onsite electric car charging ports which are free to use!
• Full access to our amazing internal employee benefits scheme including, Occupational Health services, Rewards Schemes, Benefits discounts (including the Blue Light Card), Health & Fitness and Personal Wellbeing support and much more!
• You will receive a generous local government career average pension scheme in line with the Local Government Pension Scheme.

Onboarding Process

Please note as part of our onboarding process, the successful candidate will be required undergo a series of background checks with Experian Including Experian DBS, Right to Work, and Digital ID verification. These are essential pre-employment requirements.

For further information please contact Daniel ODowd (Residential Manager) [e-mail]

Why Join Us?

• Impactful Work - be part of a team that makes a real difference in the lives of the city’s most vulnerable children.
• Supportive Environment - enjoy a supportive and collaborative work culture where your contributions are valued.
• Career Development - benefit from tailored development programs, supportive supervision, and a range of learning opportunities to enhance your skills and advance your career.
• Generous Benefits - take advantage of our competitive reward package including generous leave allowance, Local Government pension scheme, and additional benefits.

Our Values

We approach our work with care and compassion, actively listening to the needs of the children and young people we serve. We involve them in the decisions that affect their lives, ensuring their voices are heard and respected.

We are committed to using our resources wisely, ensuring that every penny is spent where it counts the most. We foster collaboration among schools, health professionals, and the police, working together to create a supportive network for our young people.

We believe that when we work as one cohesive team, the children and young people of Birmingham are more likely to thrive. Our unified approach ensures that we provide the best possible support and opportunities for their growth and development.

Join us and together, we can create a brighter future for all.

Safeguarding

At Birmingham Children’s Trust, we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.

Depending on the role, you may be asked to undergo the appropriate level of Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check to assess your suitability for working with children and young people.

The level of check (Standard, Enhanced, or Enhanced with Barred List) is determined based on the specific responsibilities of the role and the level of contact with children and young people.

We are committed to the fair treatment of all applicants, including those with criminal records. Having a criminal record will not necessarily bar an individual from working with us. This will depend on the nature of the position and the circumstances and background of the offence.